As described by the National Geodetic Survey in 1996 (although already monumented back in 1986):
"IN HOUSTON, AT THE INTERSECTION OF FRANKLIN AND MEEK STREETS, SET VERTICALLY IN THE WEST FACE OF THE CENTER 1 OF 3 CONCRETE COLUMNS OF THE 1ST PIER NORTH OF FRANKLIN STREET OF THE SOUTHBOUND STATE HIGHWAY 45 OVERPASS OF THE STREET, 9.0 M (29.5 FT) NORTH OF THE CENTERLINE OF THE WESTBOUND LANES OF FRANKLIN STREET, 4.2 M (13.8 FT) EAST OF THE CENTER OF NORTHBOUND LANES OF MEEK STREET, AND 1.4 M (4.6 FT) ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE STREETS."
Save for the "Meek Street" references, the NGS description is pretty accurate and should definitely assist future seekers in finding this benchmark... "Meek Street" no longer exists, the road has now become the entrance/exit ramp for the I-10 HOV lanes: the description should be changed to "at the intersection of Franklin Street and the HOV lane downtown entrance/exit ramp for IH-10"
Likewise, the NGS recorded coordinates are a little off, at least at the time of this waymark's posting. Its most recent associated NGS Data Sheet reports it as "N 29 45 56 W 095 22 02" (i.e. "N 29° 45.933 W 95° 22.033"), which is ~45 ft off and points to a location SSE from the actual BM, on the center median of Franklin Street... the 2005 readings were probably difficult to get as the BM sits right below the IH-45 interchange, i.e. no good satellite cover. The actual coordinates just 10' west of the BM (which does have access to the sky above) were measured within 13' accuracy and 10+ reading averages, and came out to "N 29° 45.939 W 095° 22.037".
Below are some additional facts, per the NGS database (with some editing for length): (
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AW5610 ***********************************************************************
AW5610 DESIGNATION - L 1499
AW5610 PID - AW5610
AW5610 STATE/COUNTY- TX/HARRIS
AW5610 COUNTRY - US
AW5610 USGS QUAD - SETTEGAST (1995)
AW5610
AW5610 *CURRENT SURVEY CONTROL
AW5610 ______________________________________________________________________
AW5610* NAD 83(1986) POSITION- 29 45 56. (N) 095 22 02. (W) SCALED
AW5610* NAVD 88 ORTHO HEIGHT - 12.971 (meters) 42.56 (feet) ADJUSTED
AW5610 ______________________________________________________________________
AW5610
AW5610_MARKER: DV = VERTICAL CONTROL DISK
AW5610_SETTING: 40 = SET IN A LARGE STRUCTURE WITH DEEP FOUNDATIONS
AW5610_SP_SET: PIER
AW5610_STAMPING: L 1499 1986
AW5610_MARK LOGO: NGS
AW5610_MAGNETIC: N = NO MAGNETIC MATERIAL
AW5610_STABILITY: A = MOST RELIABLE AND EXPECTED TO HOLD
AW5610+STABILITY: POSITION/ELEVATION WELL
AW5610_SATELLITE: THE SITE LOCATION WAS REPORTED AS NOT SUITABLE FOR
AW5610+SATELLITE: SATELLITE OBSERVATIONS - October 31, 2005
AW5610
AW5610 HISTORY - Date Condition Report By
AW5610 HISTORY - 1986 MONUMENTED NGS
AW5610 HISTORY - 19960206 GOOD NGS
AW5610 HISTORY - 19960921 GOOD USPSQD
AW5610 HISTORY - 20040517 GOOD USPSQD
AW5610 HISTORY - 20051031 GOOD BOHAN